Writing a Recovery Journal

Many people who are sober and in recovery keep a journal. Writing things down can be a very powerful way to process your feelings and get them “out of your head.” Often, problems don’t seem quite so big or so awful once you’ve worked through them on paper.

A journal is also a great way to keep an eye on your progress as you move beyond active addiction and into recovery. A year or two from now, you might look back on what you wrote and be astonished at what you have accomplished. And proud of yourself.

Your recovery journal doesn’t have to be fancy—you can get your thoughts down in a notebook, email memos to yourself, use a recovery app, or just start a computer file. You can write about whatever you want. And no one has to ever see a word of it, so be honest.

What should you write about in your recovery journal? Anything you want, really. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Your emotions today

Feelings about being in recovery

Your overall recovery plan

Your feelings after an Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meeting or therapy session